In this episode of Redlines, we hear the sobering story of Joan, an experienced but unlicensed architecture professional who faced a devastating lawsuit that threatened her career and livelihood. Joan shares her journey of running a successful design practice for years, only to have it come crashing down due to a dispute with foreign investors on a challenging hillside project. As Joan recounts the details of the case, we gain insight into the precarious position many unlicensed designers...

In this episode of Redlines, we delve into a captivating story of one architect's struggle to defend her intellectual property and creative work. Maya, a rising talent in the design world, shares a harrowing tale of a mentor-like figure who exploited her unique methods and teachings, using them for their own gain without permission or credit. As Maya navigates the complex legal waters, she confronts not only the blatant theft of her ideas but also the emotional turmoil of broken trust and...

A warning for our listeners, in this episode we discuss sexual misconduct in the workplace and uncomfortable scenarios in a professional setting. We want you to know this in advance, and please take care when listening to this episode. In this episode of Redlines, Jake and Erin speak with Lara (name changed for confidentiality), an international architecture student who shares her deeply challenging journey to practice architecture in the United States.  Laura recounts the bureaucratic...

K* opens up about his experiences entering the architecture profession after serving in the military.  K shares with hosts Jake and Erin about his background growing up in a low-income family and joining the Marines to pay for college. After deploying overseas, K left the military to pursue architecture.  However, the transition from the military hierarchy to architecture school was challenging, as was finding a job after graduation. K shares stories of working for firms that undervalued...

Chris* faced a series of traumatic and unfair experiences over the course of his architecture career.  Despite his lifelong passion for architecture, Chris dealt with difficult bosses, excessive overwork, sexual harassment, lack of appreciation, and ultimately wrongful dismissal.  His story highlights the need for positive change in architecture's problematic power dynamics, management issues, and lack of work-life balance.  Three major incidents that happened to Chris were: Early in his...

Welcome to this week's episode of Redlines, where we delve into the intriguing world of architecture and its untold stories. This week, we're taking a unique turn from our usual format. In this episode of Redlines, hosts Jake and Erin revisit stories from the Out of Architecture book that continue to look at the culture of exploitation within architecture.   Legitimate complaints about underpayment and poor working conditions are often dismissed under the guise of “the gentlemen’s...

In this episode of Redlines, hosts Jake and Erin speak with Cecilia and Elif, two architecture students who took an unpaid summer internship abroad at a famous firm in Spain at the recommendation of their professor.  However, instead of gaining valuable experience in an architecture office, they were treated as expendable labor.  Cecilia and Elif recount the harrowing details of this exploitative internship and the fear they felt in speaking up due to the power dynamics at play with famous...

The Turbulent Journey of an Accomplished Architect This episode of Redlines tells the story of Natasha (a pseudonym), an architect with over 14 years of experience who faced discrimination and career roadblocks at the hands of her employer. Despite her expertise and external recognition, Natasha was excluded from opportunities and advancement. Three major incidents: Natasha was invited to speak at a prestigious conference about her work in computational design. Her firm and professor...

This episode shines a light on the withholding of critical information by architecture firms to create an uneven power dynamic as firms hold visa sponsorship over young, foreign workers. Our storyteller this week is Cat - a pseudonym - who shares their personal experience with the H1B visa process in the United States and the challenges they faced while working at a reputable architecture firm.  Cat discusses the lack of transparency, exploitation, and the difficulty of seeking a life in...